Guide column array: a versatile approach to aligning and patterning ceramic nanofibers

Abstract

Ceramic fibers have been manufactured via electrospinning for a variety of applications, including microelectronics, gas sensing, and memory systems. Preferentially ordering ceramic fibers as uniaxially aligned mats, as layered arrays, or as patterned structures has enormous potential to enhance current applications and add utility to electrospun ceramic fibers. Here, we developed a versatile guide column array-based method for manufacturing uniaxially aligned and patterned arrays of ceramic fibers. The guide column array was designed to control the electrospinning jet via electrostatic interactions between the electrified jet and the electrodes, resulting in fibers that preferentially oriented during deposition. A relationship between the ceramic precursor solution conductivity was correlated to the optimal operating voltage for the realization of aligned ceramic nanofibers using the guide column array.